Combined back-strap and trace buckle



(No Model.) T

' G. ZITLOW.

COMBINED BACK STRAP AND TRACE BUCKLE. No 317,696. Patented May 12, 1885.

l lulf lllill WITNESSES IIVVE/VTOH f 7, @j

UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

GEORGE ZITLOVV, OF GLENOOE, llllNNESOTA.

COMBINED BACK-STRAP AND TRACE BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 317,696, dated May 12, 1885.

Application filed March 7, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE ZiTLoW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Glencoe, in the county of McLeod and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in a Combined Back-Strap and Trace Buckle, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings.

Myinvention relates to that class of buckles which are adapted to receive and retain in operative position a back-strap, tug-strap or trace, and the strap connecting the latter with the heme in a harness; and my invention consists in certain features of construction hereinafter described, and specifically set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a central vertical longitudinal section of a buckle constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the buckle with the parts open, and the straps shown in dotted lines.

Like letters indicate like parts in both figures.

A represents the body portion of a buckle, which is made of a single casting, and comprises the following main features of construction, namely: a recess, A, arranged transversely to the body portion, and provided with a single rigid pin, A projecting upward- 1y therefrom to a depth equal to that of the recess, a flat portion or table, A terminating in a T-head, A, forming lugs A at each side, and at the end of the head. The table is provided with an opening, A

At the opposite side or in rear of the recess A lugs or cars A are formed upon the table, to serve as bearings for the pivot or pin'tle B of the hinged cap-plate B, which is provided with a depending pin, B, which, when the cap-piece is folded down, enters the opening A slightly and near its rear walls. The cappiece B is also provided along its front end with a bar or rib, B which acts as a stop for the cross-bar G of a link or bail, O. The link or bail G is made to embrace the cap and baseplates of the buckle, oris of such a width as to abut against the projecting ends of the T-head A when drawn to that end of the buckle. The side bars of the link or bail are curved so that its crossbar O is in a plane To insure the easy entrance of the tug or trace into the rear end of the buckle, and to facilitate a clamping action of the parts, as hereinafter described, the bearings A are projected so as to make a space between the cap and the base of the buckle at the joint of the former somewhat deeper than the thickness of the trace would require.

This being the construction, the operation is as follows The back-strap E,which is usually provided with a series of buckle-tongue holes, is adjusted by arranging it in the recess A, and with the pin A in a desired hole, so that when in place it is out of the path of the trace, and at the same time it does not add materially to the weight of, nor in any manner weaken, the base-plate. The tug or trace is now entered from the rear, the cap being swung up, as shown in Fig. 2, and when adjusted to proper length said cap is swung down, the pin B thereof passing through'a desired hole and into the opening A in the base. While the cap B is swung upwardly the link or bail is drawn to the rear, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and when swung down the link or bail is drawn to the front, and by means of its curved side arms and cross-bar G abutting against the lugs A and Birespeotively, the front end of the base and cap are made to firmly bite the tug or trace at the front end of the buckle, and this biting action is increased according to the strain upon the tug or trace. By arranging the recess with its upwardlyprojecting pin out of the path of the trace I provide means whereby either of the straps passing through the buckle may be adjusted without changing the adjustment of the other. To take up or let out the backstrap, the link or bail is moved to the rear, as shown in Fig. 2, carrying with it the tugstrap, with the pin 1-3 passing therethrough, when the back-strap may be adjusted. In a like manner it is apparent that the tug-strap may be adjusted independently of the backstrap, which would not be the case if the pin 13 passed through both straps.

Having described my invention and its operation, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a combined back-strap and trace buckle, the base-plate A, provided with the recess A, having the pin A the table A having the opening A and the headA, having the projections A in combination with a hinged cap, B, provided with the pin B and rib B and a curved link or bail, 0, having crossbars 0, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a buckle of the class described, the combination of the base-plate provided with v a table having a lugged head, and a recess arranged in rear and below the plane of said table, a hinged cap provided with a rib, and a link adapted to abut against the-lugs of the table and the rib of the link, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a buckle of the class described, a base, A, provided with side lugs, A and a recess provided with an upwardly-projectin g pin, A in combination with a hinged cap, B, having a rib, B, at its free end, and a clown wardly-projecting pin, Bflwhereby independent adjustment of the straps passing through the buckle is secured, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE ZITLOW.

Witnesses THOS. E. BA-EILAW, JOHN S. DAVIS. 

